Container With Kick-Back

ABSTRACT

A container or box formed from an inner carton forming a bottom portion of the box and an outer carton forming a top portion of the box. The cartons can be formed from paperboard or a corrugated material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/457,835 filed Apr. 27, 2012, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 61/479,717 filed Apr. 27, 2011, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

N/A

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a container or box having aninner carton and an outer carton for transporting and displaying goods,the cartons provided with extensions that act as spacers in the interiorof the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A large variety of containers or boxes are used to ship goods. Thepresent invention provides a box that also converts to a display for theproduct contained in the box, eliminating the need to remove the productand place it in a separate display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a container or box having an easy to usemachine-assembled structure featuring paperboard and corrugatedsubstrates. It has a sharpless design that eliminates knives in themanufacturing process. The box includes a glued-in kick-back feature tooptimally merchandise product transported in the box on-shelf. A topminor back flap features added material that succinctly folds down tofill headspace void and firmly hold product in place for superiorprotection.

The box meets retailers supply chain requirements. The box also offersexceptional brand billboard to help generate additional sales on-shelf.

The box includes an efficient design that can be engineered to runin-line on automated fill equipment. It has a full overlap design thatprovides optimal stacking strength. The box also includes an innercarton that forms an inner tray designed for increased productvisibility and easy access.

In accordance with one embodiment, a box for shipping and displayinggoods is provided. The box comprises an inner carton having front panel,a first side panel, a second side panel, a back wall panel, and aplurality of bottom wall panels forming a bottom of the box.Additionally, one of the bottom wall panels includes a first spacer foroccupying space in the interior of the container or box. The firstspacer can be extra material in the flap configured to be folded tooccupy free space in the box or apply pressure to the goods therein (inorder to avoid movement of the goods during shipping). The box furthercomprises an outer carton having front panel, a first side panel, asecond side panel, a back wall panel, and a plurality of top wall panelsform a top of the box. One of the top wall panels includes a secondspacer for occupying space in the interior of the container or box.Similar to the first spacer, the second spacer can be extra material inthe flap which can be folded to occupy free space in the box or applypressure to the goods therein. The inner and outer cartons areconfigured to fit together to form the box.

The outer carton of the box also comprises a first removable flap and asecond removable flap. The first removable flap of the outer carton ispositioned along a mid-portion of a first side of the front panel andalong the first side panel, and the second removable flap of the outercarton is positioned along a mid-portion of a second side of the frontpanel and along the second side panel.

The inner carton can also comprises a first removable flap generallyaligned with the first removable flap of the outer carton, and a secondremovable flap generally aligned with the second removable flap of theouter carton. Both sets of flaps are removed to display the goods.

The inner carton is formed from a single blank of material. Similarly,the outer carton is also formed from a single blank of material.

The outer carton is removably attached to the inner carton. This can beaccomplished by connecting flaps on the inner carton to flaps on theouter carton. Alternatively, at least a portion of the front panel ofthe outer carton is removably connected. Similarly, at least a portionof the top panel of the outer carton is removably connected. Fordisplay, a portion of the front panel and top panel of the outer cartonare removed to show the product. Additionally, at least a portion of thefirst side panel can be removably connected and at least a portion ofthe second side panel can be removably connected to enhance the look ofthe box and goods during display. Perforations can be used to enableremoval of these portions.

The first side panel of the inner carton can includes a cut-awayportion. Similarly, the second side panel of the inner carton includes acut-away portion. The cut-away portions can also enhance the displayaspects of the box.

Each of the front panel, first side panel, second side panel and backwall panel of the inner carton can be connected to one of the pluralityof bottom wall panels. The first spacer can be connected to the bottomwall panel connected to the back wall panel of the inner carton.

Each of the front panel, first side panel, second side panel and backwall panel can be connected to one of the plurality of top wall panels.The second spacer can be connected to the bottom wall panel connected tothe front panel of the outer carton.

In accordance with another embodiment, a box for transporting anddisplaying good comprises an inner carton having a front panel, a firstside panel, a second side panel, a back wall panel, and a plurality ofbottom wall panels integrally connected and formed from a first blank ofmaterial. One of the bottom wall panels includes a first spacer foroccupying space in an interior of the container or box. The box alsocomprises an outer carton having a front panel, a first side panel, asecond side panel, a back wall panel, and a plurality of top wall panelsintegrally connected and formed from a second blank of material. One ofthe top wall panels of the outer container includes a second spacer foroccupying space in the in the interior of the box.

The first spacer can be a foldable extension of one of the bottom wallpanels of the inner carton. The second spacer can be a foldableextension of one of the top wall panels of the outer carton.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a box for transporting anddisplaying goods comprise a first carton having a front panel, a firstside panel, a second side panel, a back wall panel, and a plurality ofbottom wall panels integrally connected and formed from a first blank ofmaterial. The box also comprises a second carton configured to cooperatewith the first carton to form the box. The second carton has a frontpanel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a back wall panel, and aplurality of top wall panels integrally connected and formed from asecond blank of material. One of the first carton and the second cartoninclude a first spacer connected to one of the panels for occupyingspace in an interior of the box.

In accordance with one configuration, the first spacer is on the firstcarton. In this configuration, the second carton can include a secondspacer connected to one of the panels in the second carton for occupyingspace in the interior of the box.

Further aspects of the invention are disclosed in the description of theinvention, including the Figures and/or Attachments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a box having an inner carton and an outercarton in an unopened state in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the box of FIG. 1 with two opening panels ofthe outer carton and the inner carton in a partially opened position;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the box of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the two openingpanels of the outer carton removed as well as two opening panels of theinner carton;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the box of FIGS. 1-3 with a top portionremoved exposing product;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the box of FIG. 4 from one side of the box;

FIG. 6 is a blank of an inner carton in accordance with the presentinvention; and,

FIG. 7 is a blank of an outer carton in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings will herein be described in detailpreferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

FIGS. 1-5 disclose a box 10 for transporting and displaying goods inaccordance with the present invention. During transportation, the box 10has a generally rectangular outer shape. After transport, the box can beopened and utilized as a display system.

Specifically, after the box 10 is shipped (e.g., to a store), portionsof the box 10 can be removed to turn the box into a display systemcontaining the goods shipped. Referring to FIG. 2, the box 10 includes afirst opening flap 12 and a second opening flap 14. The flaps 12 and 14are shown partially opened and connected to the remainder of the box 10.The flaps 12, 14 are positioned in the middle of a front facing panel24.

FIG. 3 shows the box 10 of FIG. 2 with the flaps 12, 14 removed from thebox 10. Goods 16 (in this instance, foil covered packages) held in aninner carton 18 of the box 10 are visible through the opening exposed bythe removed flaps 12, 14 (and removed flaps from the inner carton asdiscussed below). The inner carton 18 is positioned substantially withinan outer carton 19, and cooperates with the outer carton 19 to form thebox 10.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the box 10 with the outer carton removed. Based onthe shape of the inner carton, this fully exposes the goods 16 for sale.

FIG. 6 discloses a blank 20 for forming the inner carton 18 of the box10. The blank 20 includes a first side panel 22 connected to one side ofa front panel 24. A second side panel 26 is connected on a first side toa second side of the front panel 24, and a back wall panel 28 isconnected to a second side of the second side panel 26. Bottom flaps orpanels 30 extend from a lower portion of each of the first side panel22, front panel 24, second side panel 26 and back panel 28. The bottompanels 30 connected to the side, front and back panels of the innercarton 18 form a bottom of the box 10.

The blank 20 for the inner carton 18 also includes a first opening flap32 and a second opening flap 34 that correspond substantially in shapeand position to the opening flaps 12 and 14. The opening flaps 32, 34 ofthe inner carton 18 are connected to (e.g., by glue) and are removedalong with the opening flaps 12, 14 of the outer carton when opening thebox 10. This connection between the flaps of the outer carton and theinner carton facilitates keeping the inner carton and the outer cartontogether to act as a single box for transporting the goods. Once theflaps are removed, the inner carton can be separated from the outercarton.

One of the bottom panels 30 (connected to the back wall panel 28) isprovided with an extension portion 36 which acts as a spacer in theinterior of the box during use. The extension portion 36 can be foldedand positioned in the interior of the box 10 to fill unused space in theinterior of the box and help support the goods being transported (e.g.,prevent the goods from shifting or moving in the box 10). The extensionkeeps the goods together and prevents them from too much movement in thebox during transportation.

FIG. 7 discloses a blank 38 for forming the outer carton 19 of the box10. The blank 38 includes a front panel 40, a first side panel 42connected on to the front panel 40 on a first side and a second sidepanel 44 connected on a first side to a second side of the front panel40. A back wall panel 46 is connected to a second side of the secondside panel 46. Each of the front panel 40, first side panel 42, secondside panel 44 and back wall panel 46 include a top flap or panel 48which cooperate to form a top of the box 10. The opening flaps 12 and 14are formed in the front panel 40 and the first and second side panels44, 46.

Similar to the inner carton blank 20, the blank 38 for the outer cartonhas an extension portion 50 on the top flap 48 connected to the frontpanel 40. Again, the extension portion acts as a spacer in that it canbe folded and positioned in the interior of the box 10 to take up spaceand support the goods contained therein.

Each component of the box 10, i.e., the inner carton 18 and the outercarton 19, is provided with appropriate fold lines and perforations toenable folding and/or (later) removal of components to create the box 10for transport and display as shown in the Figures. The cartons 18, 19can be formed from paperboard or a corrugated material or other similarmaterials.

While each of the cartons 18, 19 includes an extension portion, it mayonly be necessary or desired to have one extension portion which can beon either the inner carton 18 or the outer carton 19. Additionally, insome circumstances, the extension portion can be placed on differentpanels than shown in the Figures. Moreover, in some embodiments, morethan one panel of the inner carton 18, or the outer carton 19 caninclude an extension portion.

In a further embodiment, the outer carton 19 can also include bottomflaps for forming a bottom over the bottom flaps of the inner carton 18.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understoodwithin the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protectedotherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:
 1. A box for shipping and displaying goods comprising: abottom carton portion having front panel, a first side panel, a secondside panel, a back wall panel, and at least one bottom wall panel,wherein the at least one bottom wall panel includes a first spacer foroccupying space in the interior of the box.
 2. The box of claim 1further comprising: a top carton portion that connects to the bottomcarton portion, the top carton portion having front panel, a first sidepanel, a second side panel, a back wall panel, and at least one top wallpanel, wherein the at least one top wall panel includes a second spacerfor occupying space in the interior of the box.
 3. The box of claim 2wherein the top carton portion further comprises a first removable flapand a second removable flap.
 4. The box of claim 3 wherein the firstremovable flap of the top carton portion is positioned along amid-portion of a first side of the front panel and along the first sidepanel, and the second removable flap of the top carton portion ispositioned along a mid-portion of a second side of the front panel andalong the second side panel.
 5. The box of claim 4 wherein the bottomcarton portion comprises a first removable flap generally aligned withthe first removable flap of the top carton portion, and a secondremovable flap generally aligned with the second removable flap of thetop carton portion.
 6. The box of claim 1 wherein the bottom cartonportion is formed from a single blank of material.
 7. The box of claim 2wherein the top carton portion is formed from a single blank ofmaterial.
 8. The box of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the frontpanel of the top carton portion is removably connected.
 9. The box ofclaim 8 wherein at least a portion of the top panel of the top cartonportion is removably connected.
 10. The box of claim 1 wherein the topcarton portion is removably connected to the bottom carton portion. 11.The box of claim 9 wherein the first side panel of the bottom cartonportion includes a cut-away portion, and the second side panel of thebottom carton portion includes a cut-away portion.
 12. The box of claim1 further comprising a plurality of bottom wall panels and wherein eachof the front panel, first side panel, second side panel and back wallpanel of the inner carton is connected to one of the plurality of bottomwall panels.
 13. The box of claim 12 wherein the first spacer isconnected to the bottom wall panel connected to the back wall panel ofthe bottom carton portion.
 14. The box of claim 12 further comprising aplurality of top wall panels and wherein each of the front panel, firstside panel, second side panel and back wall panel is connected to one ofthe plurality of top wall panels.
 15. The box of claim 14 wherein thesecond spacer is connected to the top wall panel connected to the frontpanel of the top carton portion.
 16. A box for transporting anddisplaying goods comprising: an inner carton having a front panel, afirst side panel, a second side panel, a back wall panel, and aplurality of bottom wall panels integrally connected and formed from afirst blank of material, wherein one of the bottom wall panels includesa first spacer for occupying space in an interior of the box.
 17. Thebox of claim 16 further comprising: an outer carton connected to theinner carton, the outer carton having a front panel, a first side panel,a second side panel, a back wall panel, and a plurality of top wallpanels integrally connected and formed from a second blank of material.18. The box of claim 17 wherein one of the top wall panels of the outercontainer includes a second spacer for occupying space in the in theinterior of the box.
 19. The box of claim 16 wherein the first spacer isa foldable extension of the one of the bottom wall panels of the innercarton.
 20. The box of claim 18 wherein the second spacer is a foldableextension of the one of the top wall panels of the outer carton.